Last year we gave our old Ikea kitchen new cupboard fronts and appliances. It really brightened things up, but there were still a few details I wasn’t happy with: the oppressive metal shelves, the giant (but useless) cooker hood and the black wall tiles. The tiles are still here, but I’m pleased to say that the shelves and cooker hood have now vanished – replaced with bright new shelves and a fantastic feeling of space.
This is what it used to look like:
There was lots of clutter on the shelves – gathering dust, getting sticky… I’d always hated them. The worktop was cluttered too, and the paint work was very scratched from years of putting things on and off the shelves. The cooker hood had a useful light on it, but didn’t do much else as there was no external venting. Its main function was for James to crack his head on it once a week.
So, out it all came. James scrubbed the walls down and I re-organised the kitchen cupboards for the first time in years to make space for most of the things off the shelves. Dragging everything out was a painful process, but I’m amazed by how much more space we have now.
We repainted the walls in the same colour, Perfectly Taupe by Dulux and then put up these new Ikea shelves. They are so much neater and plainer than the old ones.
Now the cooker hood has gone there’s so much more natural light. James also replaced all the old sockets with new ones – which just adds to the feeling of freshness. The new magnetic knife rack is also from Ikea. The black tiles are still here, but I don’t think they’re so noticeable now.
We also have a new kitchen bookshelf, something I’ve wanted for years.
Project de-clutter is definitely well under way!
Wow it looks so much better, I love all your vintage tins, always nice to have somewhere for cookbooks xx
I can’t believe how much lighter it feels now the shelves and cooker hood have gone!
Love your style and all your accessories! Wow it looks like a lovely place to cook and bake. Great photos. Jess xx
What a lovely inviting space! I really love all the bright colours, plus it looks so cosy!
Wow! That all looks lovely! xxxx
I love the shelving with all the jars – so organised and cute. my kitchen needs a major declutter! #homeetc
Thanks Rebecca! The power of a good de-clutter is so wonderful!
You’ve done a great job. It always surprises me how much ‘stuff’ we have in our kitchen. I’m sure a good clear out would do us all good, especially if you get lovely results like yours #homeetc
A good clear out is such an important thing. We hasn’t had a proper one for about four years so were long overdue. I definitely want to try and do it at least once a year from now on.
I really love the look you’ve gone for! Compared to your “old ” kitchen lol mine is prehistoric lol! x
Ha ha! Yes, our kitchen felt very dated but I realise it wasn’t really that bad! The main problem was it just looking a bit shabby and broken.
It’s amazing what a difference things like replacing the sockets can make, isn’t it? I love the cookbook shelf – I really want somewhere in the kitchen for mine, but they’re currently all in the living room. It’s a must have for my future kitchen (someday, someday!) #HomeEtc
Yes the sockets look so much better now. Kitchens are tricky rooms and it’s hard to remove all these layers of grease and dirt (yuck!).
It looks great! I can’t believe what a difference those changes have made. Like you say, lots more natural light and looking so much more spacious! I would really love a shelf for my cookbooks too. How are they supported at the end? Do you have bookends? #HomeEtc
Thanks Sue – yes we have some really simple plastic bookends at each side of the shelf. They’re really ancient, so not sure were they’re from. Just very simple black plastic.
Small changes can make such a big difference, can’t they? Your kitchen was lovely to start with but the new shelves really do make the space airier and brighter. Getting new sockets too was a good idea, to finish off the look.
We have a kitchen bookself ever since we moved into this house and I love it. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, so it is great to ahve all my things to hand there.
#homeetc
Thanks! Yes, the extra light has made so much difference. It was already a bright room, but I hadn’t realised just how much light the cooker hood was blocking out. x
As we’re in the middle of a major kitchen refit, I found this very interesting. Seems like you’ve done an amazing job of decluttering. Loe the colour on the walls too. #HomeEtc
Thanks John! De-cluttering is so liberating. I read somewhere that the fewer labels and words you can see in your kitchen the calmer and roomier it looks. So getting rid of all the packets of cereal and boxes has made so much difference.
Wow that has really brightened up the space! I just done our kitchen aswell, doesn’t it get you in a decluttering mood too?!, I’ve never seen my kitchen so tidy haha! xx
Thanks Sabrina! So far, it’s staying pretty tidy!
It really does look so much fresher – it’s really quite amazing! I’m in love with all you vintage tins xxx
Thanks Esther! My favourite is the green one x
Ohmygoodness — we REALLY need to do the same with our kitchen. I absolutely hate it at the mo — it’s SO cluttered and tired. One thing at a time though and this year my garden office is getting the attention — the kitchen will have to join the queue 😉 Love what you’ve done — it looks so much fresher! Thanks so much for linking up with us Lizzie — much appreciated x #HomeEtc
To be honest it was probably filling the bin bags that made the biggest difference! And at least that costs nothing! x
Thanks for linking up – much appreciated 🙂 Jess xx
#HomeEtc